A CANINE LOVE STORY

For Jackson and Pru, it was so much more than mere puppy love

The pavement felt deliciously cool beneath his paws as he trotted purposely down Maple Tree Avenue, the street where Prudence lived with Anna. He picked up his pace in anticipation, knowing she would already be harnessed, leashed and waiting for him on her front porch.

Jackson was a debonair-looking beagle. Tri-coloured patches marked his blond body, with a particularly fetching black patch circling his right eye, giving him a somewhat rakish appearance.

Prudence, however, was a lady beagle through and through and would be celebrating her 16th birthday next week. Small and slight, she still retained her dark coat with only the most subtle flecks of white and grey. She and Jackson had been a couple for several years now.

As Jackson rounded the corner with his mistress Becky close behind, he saw Pru’s black nose pressed between the railings of the porch gate, her eyes scanning the street for him. Her tail swished decorously when their eyes met. The sight of her black-edged brown eyes always made his heart flutter. When they were underway, Pru turned to Jackson.

“Did you hear about Rosamunde?” Pru asked him, referring to a 12-year-old golden retriever who had lived on Sugar Bush Street.

“Yes,” Jackson replied, his tail dipping sharply and his lips closing in a thoughtful frown. “I was so sorry. Rosamunde was such a happy soul. Always had a kind word for everyone.”

Pru nodded and they fell into a somber but companionable silence as they walked side by side.

“I hope it was peaceful,” Jackson said, as they neared the park. “You know, Pru, I don’t know what I would do

without you. I worry about it sometimes.”

“Oh, my dearest Jackson. Please don’t worry. I have had such a wonderful life! My goodness! Sixteen years! And when you came along—well, it went from marvelous to perfect.” She laughed with delight, shaking her head in disbelief.

Becky and Anna sat on a park bench while Pru and Jackson settled down side by side in the grass. Pru tucked her front paw under one of his.

“Are you okay, Jackson?”

He sighed. “I guess so. I’m going to miss Rosamunde.”

“Me, too.”

They were quiet. Pru luxuriated in the warmth of Jackson’s paw next to hers.

“I’m sure we’ve still got lots of time together, Jackson,” she consoled him. “But whenever the day comes when I must leave, you must promise me that you and Becky will still go for walks with my Anna. She’s going to need you.”

Jackson’s liquid brown eyes melted into hers. Those eyes never failed to tug at her heart.

“You know I’d promise you anything,” he reminded her, pressing his paw against hers. “And I will love you until the day I die.”

Pru bumped her shoulder up against his and lowered her thick eyelashes to give him a slow wink.

“I will love you forever, too, Jackson,” she whispered.

He nuzzled her face with his snout and she closed her eyes with pleasure. When the sun started to lose its warmth, Becky and Anna got up from the bench and put on their jackets.

Suddenly a gust of wind swooped over them, causing Pru’s ears to fly up like wings. Pru laughed rapturously at the feel of the breeze under her silky ears. Anna laughed, too, bending down to kiss the top of Pru’s head. “Silly old girl,” she said, with a heart filled with love.

Pru caught Jackson’s eye and gave him another long wink. He smiled back.

“Come on, you two love birds. Time to head home.”